Seize the Moment – Day 463
Throughout the Land of Egypt!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, June 23.
Exodus 11:4-7 is a very important passage in this short chapter that warns of the final and most horrific plague:
Moses said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘About midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt, and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the millstones; all the firstborn of the cattle as well. ‘Moreover, there shall be a great cry in all the land of Egypt, such as there has not been before and such as shall never be again. ‘But against any of the sons of Israel a dog will not even bark, whether against man or beast, that you may understand how the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’
There is a critical detail that is often missed in the teaching of the Passover: the tenth plague was a threat to “all the firstborn in the land of Egypt.” That means both Israelites and Egyptians were in danger equally from this plague.
This time and for all time forward, God makes a distinction between His people and other people by authorizing a specific way for them to be protected. The Israelites are no longer automatically protected, like they were in the first nine plagues, because now they must obey God’s authorized way to be safe. As we will learn in Exodus 12, it is only through the blood of the Passover Lamb that God’s people would be safe from God’s coming judgment.
The same is true today! Paul says in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Seize the moment and trust God for your protection from His coming wrath—believe in Jesus Christ for eternal life.
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Seize the Moment – Day 462
Legacy Events!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, June 22.
What are the stories you tell the next generation? What legacy events from your life do you want talked about around the dinner table?
God adds the next generation to His motives behind His awesome display of power through the ten plagues. Not only is He rescuing the Israelites from Pharaoh, but He is also establishing a legacy event that will shape their new identity as God’s people. Listen to the LORD speak to Moses in Exodus 10:1-2,
Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may perform these signs of Mine among them, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your grandson, how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and how I performed My signs among them, that you may know that I am the Lord.
God is directing Moses to teach His people to remember the ten plagues and how He demonstrated His absolute sovereignty and ultimate power over Pharaoh and Egypt’s pantheon of gods to rescue them from slavery and oppression. God was pointing out to them that this was not to be forgotten!
Are there moments from your life that should not be forgotten? Are there experiences with God or events and situations from your past that have shaped you into the person you are or have become defining moments for your family?
Seize the moment and reflect upon your life and the good that God has done for you. Write it down in a journal or record you telling the story in your own voice. Plan a family gathering when you can share some of these stories with the next generation. Ask God to reveal to you the legacy events of your life and how He would like you to tell the future generations about His greatness through your story.
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Seize the Moment – Day 461
Favoritism!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, June 21.
Every parent knows not to show favoritism. It causes jealousy and conflict between the kids because people tend to act out when they feel like someone is getting treated better than they are. Just remember the story of Joseph and how his father’s favoritism and special gifts brought great suffering upon him at the hands of his brothers.
There is an exception though. God, our heavenly father, makes distinctions between those who belong to Him and those who do not. While every person can call upon God to be their Father, not everyone recognizes Him as their creator, redeemer, and sustainer.
Exodus 9:4-6 overtly states how God makes distinctions between the Egyptians and the Israelites and how God’s plagues would impact them differently:
“But the Lord will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing will die of all that belongs to the sons of Israel.” The Lord set a definite time, saying, “Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.” So the Lord did this thing on the next day, and all the livestock of Egypt died; but of the livestock of the sons of Israel, not one died.
In order to rescue His chosen people, God made a distinction between those who are His and those who are not. Why? Because, as we see in verse 16, God’s motive is greater than one nation: “But, indeed, for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth.”
While God was working to rescue His chosen people from the Egyptians, His ultimate purpose was that through them all the children of the world would know His name and power. God accomplished this purpose through Jesus Christ!
Seize the moment and call upon God as your heavenly Father. He loves you! Jesus made the way for you to be His favored child!
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Live Like a Champion – Week 25
The Promise of Power Through the Holy Spirit!
This Week’s Memory Verse: Acts 1:8
Who wouldn’t like some more power?
Power to get up and face the day (Show the Energizer Bunny)
Power to be able to handle stressful work situations (Show the Star Trek Kirk quote).
The world defines power (according to Merriam-Webster)
“a source or means of supplying energy; the ability to act or produce an effect; possession of control, authority or influence over others.”
The biblical word used in this specific verse is “dunamis” (doo-ni-mas), which means:
“a description of strength of mind; moral qualities of a person; an inner strength that does not come from or depend on outer things. This is how they will be able to show God to others through their lives.”
Growing up, my parents raised my two sisters and me to be able to do things on our own, to take the initiative to get things done (which took a lot of prodding at first), and to help others when needed, which they led by example. They had us in church, surrounded by people who encouraged us in our walk with Jesus, and showed us that they were to be serving others in love, as the Holy Spirit gave them the power and the strength that they needed to get it done.
I know it was God’s power through the Holy Spirit that was helping them to do this because they could not have done it on their own. They demonstrated to us that they were studying the playbook. In this day and age, we could say that we have an app for that…downloading and plugging in to the right source! But where the problem lies is that, just like a gym membership, it doesn’t work unless we use it or put it to work. The power of the Holy Spirit is not something you use in the case of an emergency. NO! We are to be allowing it to flow in and through our lives each and every day.
I trust you have been listening to Pastor Jerry’s messages the last two weeks. They are key to understanding the differences between being sealed, being anointed, and having the power of the Holy Spirit. Somehow, there has been confusion in the church and many have come to think that these are interchangeable, and that is not the case! They are all part of what He does in our lives so we can carry out God’s plan for our lives. Let’s dig into the playbook (the Bible) and see how these all can work together in our lives.
Today, we will cover
- What is the intent of the power of the Holy Spirit?
- What is the best way for the power to flow?
- ow are we to listen? and
- How He ultimately brings glory to God?
I. What is the intent of the power of the Holy Spirit?
It is literally the power of God, the ability to act effectively and influence the behavior of others or influence events. Since it comes from Him, it is infinite, unlimited and eternal, unlike any other kind of power.
As David was being anointed to be king:
“So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.”
1 Samuel 16:13
The Spirit enabled him to do wonderful things, even in the face of great hardship and persecution. While He did not permanently indwell, the Spirit worked through them and gave them power to achieve things they would not and could not on their own.
n a vision to Zechariah for Zerubbabel:
“Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”
Zechariah 4:6
In this message of encouragement to Zerubbabel, he was being told that his work wasn’t going to be accomplished through human strength and human power, but by the Spirit of the Lord, a divine power that is constant and consistent.
B. In the New Testament we find:
To be witnesses and share the Good News of Jesus with everyone
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
Personalize this verse… “In New Castle, and in all of Henry County and Indiana, and to the end of the earth.
The once timid disciples, who had been in hiding since Jesus’ crucifixion, were now turning the world upside down with the message of the Gospel.
Paul writes to Timothy to encourage him:
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7
Look at that order! It is the power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to love, and to be disciplined. When we share the Gospel, we are to share it with power, but also in love and the evidence of that should be seen in our lives. It can never be a “do as I say, not as I do” message.
II. What is the best way for the power to flow in your life?
“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
Luke 24:49
“Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 1:4-5
They were told to stay and wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit would come. They were not told how long they would have to wait. How many of us would have honestly stayed in place after just a couple of days? This group of followers waited over a week! Ten days after receiving the message to ‘stay put’, that is when the power fell on them.
“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.”
1 Peter 5:6
I have told you before that Peter is one of my favorite disciples. He was often quick to speak or act, yet Jesus loved him dearly and kept telling him to love others as well. He was the one who had denied knowing Jesus to a servant girl yet on the Day of Pentecost, he was the one preaching to all who would listen! God provided through the Holy Spirit what Peter needed, just when he needed it!
III. How are we to listen to His voice and leading?
“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!”
Matthew 6:5-8
Remember, prayer is a TWO-WAY communication! You don’t just pray down through you prayer list, then say “OK, that’s it. Gotta run!” We are to wait upon the Lord, allow Him to speak to our hearts, and for Him to tell or show us what He wants us to do for the day.
And you don’t have to be real wordy with your prayers. Just talk with Him like you would a friend on the phone, but just like a friend on the phone, let Him get a word in edge wise!
“But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.”
Luke 5:16
This is just one time the Bible records Jesus going off by himself to pray. He knew that in order to hear God’s voice clearly and without distractions, He had to be by Himself. So if Jesus did it, and we say we want to be like Jesus, shouldn’t we be doing the same thing?
“I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” 1
Corinthians 9:27
No excuses about fasting. I know some can’t fast from food because of medical conditions. Then fast from Facebook, or television or games on our phone, iPad, or gaming system. Spend that time reading your Bible, praying and journaling. If you can only fast one meal, then take that time to go out to your car and spend that time with God. This is a great way to set a new habit or routine, as some of the other things we do are distracting us from what God is trying to say to us that He wants us to do as believers.
IV. How does He ultimately bring glory to God?
“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31
“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”
Colossians 3:17
The Holy Spirit was moving upon Paul as he emphasized an important message. In his letters to the Corinthians and to the Colossians, he uses almost the same words. Not just some things, but everything, knowing that we are representing Jesus and giving glory and thanks to God. This can only be accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Left up to us, trying to do it in our own strength and power, usually ends up a train wreck!
The Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, pointing us to the example of Jesus and helping us become more like Him. Jesus never took credit for the miracles and wonders that He did, but rather always pointed people to give praise to His Father, God. And God loved us so much, that He sent His one and only Son to live among us and give His life for us. Then when He rose again, He ascended to the right hand of the Father to intercede for us, and the Holy Spirit came to comfort and guide us….see the wonderful cycle of love!
This is how we should live our lives…in the fullness of power through the Holy Spirit. This can only be done when we stay in the Word, discipline and train our hearts and minds, listen to the voice of God as He speaks to our hearts and then work together to build His kingdom, all to His glory.
I want to pray this blessing over you as we close out this message:
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13
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Seize the Moment – Day 459
Today’s hymn focus will be “There is Power in the Blood”
1 Peter 1:18-19 (NLT)
This hymn was both written and composed by Lewis Edgar Jones in 1889, while he was attending a camp meeting at Mountain Lake Park, MD. He was a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, and Billy Sunday was one of his classmates.
While hymn writing was one of his passions, he spent most of his life working for the YMCA, in a variety of positions.
This hymn emphasizes the fact that we are redeemed by the blood of Christ, recognizing the sacrifice He made, giving His life to save our souls.
“There is power, power, wonder-working power, in the blood of the Lamb
There is power, power, wonder-working power, in the precious blood of the Lamb”
We need to wake up from our spiritual slumber and recognize all the power that God has given us to live our lives for Him. There is Power in the blood of Lamb (Jesus) that saves us…There is Power in the name of Jesus when we pray…and There is Power through the Holy Spirit that enables us to be His witnesses!
YOUTUBE:
There is Power in the Blood
Would you be free from your burden of sin?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you o’er evil a victory win?
There’s wonderful power in the blood.
In the blood of the Lamb;
There is power, power, wonder-working power,
In the precious blood of the Lamb.
Would you be free from your passion and pride?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Come for a cleansing to Calvary’s tide,
There’s wonderful power in the blood.
Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Sin-stains are lost in its life-giving flow,
There’s wonderful power in the blood.
Would you do service for Jesus your King?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you live daily His praises to sing?
There’s wonderful power in the blood.
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Seize the Moment – Day 458
How to Soften a Hard Heart!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, June 18.
Have you ever felt your heart harden towards a situation or a person?
You know you should apologize to someone, but you don’t want to. You know you should forgive someone, but you are not yet able to do so and truly mean it. Those are realities of a hard heart.
Exodus 8 covers three of the ten plagues: the plague of frogs (verses 1-15); the plague of gnats (verses 16-19); and the plague of flies (verses 20-32).
How did Pharaoh respond to each of these three plagues?
Pharaoh promises to let the Israelites go if Moses would give them relief from the plague, which Moses did each time by interceding to God on behalf of Pharaoh. Amazingly, God responded to Moses’s intercessions by taking away the plague.
Unfortunately, like many people, Pharaoh had another response after receiving relief from his suffering. He forgot and hardened his heart! Exodus 8:15 says, “But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the Lord had said.”
Obviously, this did not surprise God, but why does it surprise us? This is an everyday struggle of the human condition—we so easily and quickly forget!
Forgetting is one of the main reasons our hearts become hardened! That is why Peter says in 2 Peter 1:9, “For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.”
We must remember from what we have been saved! Because of grace and mercy, God has delivered us from death and darkness.
What has God delivered you from in the past? Are you thankful? Have you forgotten?
Seize the moment and soften your heart to God by remembering His grace and mercy towards you. You are forgiven and free because of the Cross of Jesus Christ! Make it a habit of your life to practice thankfulness and to remember daily!
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Seize the Moment – Day 457
The Battle Begins!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, June 17.
The first six chapters of Exodus has set the stage for the battle that must happen between Moses and Pharaoh so that the people of God would be set free after centuries of Egypt’s systematic slavery of the Israelites.
This battle would not be won with diplomacy, though words would be used, nor would this battle be won by armies, though Pharaoh will ultimately deploy his army. The battle belongs to the LORD, and God will fight and win it for His people in ways that go beyond human comprehension. God takes on Egypt’s power using the ten plagues!
Listen to God’s clear intent for the battle in Exodus 7:1-5,
Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I make you as God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall speak to Pharaoh that he let the sons of Israel go out of his land. But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. When Pharaoh does not listen to you, then I will lay My hand on Egypt and bring out My hosts, My people the sons of Israel, from the land of Egypt by great judgments. The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of Israel from their midst.”
There is always something more going on in our circumstances than we can know or imagine because God fights the battle for His glory and His kingdom purposes!
God took on the pantheon of false gods in Egypt to demonstrate His power and God took on the systemic slavery of Egypt and stubborn pride of Pharaoh to show His grace and compassion.
Seize the moment and trust God to fight your battles! God wants to demonstrate His power and presence in and through your life!
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Seize the Moment – Day 456
Heavy Burdened!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, June 16.
Are there any heavy burdens weighing you down?
God desires to set you free from the burdens that are oppressing you and the anxieties that are enslaving you! From Exodus 6:5-7, listen to God’s promise to Moses for the Israelites,
Furthermore I have heard the groaning of the sons of Israel, because the Egyptians are holding them in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, “I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.”
God is commanding Moses to free His people in what will forever be remembered as the first exodus! These are the words God gave to Moses to explain this to His beloved children but they would not listen as verse 9 explains, “So Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses on account of their despondency and cruel bondage.”
The same is true today. People are living in despondency and under the cruel bondage of sin to such a point that many cannot hear God’s gospel message of love and salvation through Jesus Christ.
Are their heavy burdens in your life causing you to not listen to God’s invitation?
In Matthew 11:28, Jesus, the second Moses, invites you, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Seize the moment and cast all of your heavy burdens and anxieties onto Jesus and find rest from the tyranny of despondency and the cruel bondage of sin.
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Seize the Moment – Day 455
Come Under Right Authority!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, June 15.
Jesus made it very clear that living your life with great faith is to live your life under authority.
Under whose authority do you live your life?
Pharaoh gives us an interesting insight into the human condition—we only submit to the authority of that which we recognize. Listen to the first interaction between Moses and Pharaoh in Exodus 5:1-2,
And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ ” But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and besides, I will not let Israel go.”
It will take many more exchanges and ten horrific plagues to convince Pharaoh of his error in judgment about God’s authority over him, and until that time, there would be significant loss of life and a great devastation to the Egyptian land and way of life.
It would take a great and divine compulsion for Pharaoh’s heart to relinquish control. Because this LORD that Pharaoh did not know about nor would recognize as having any authority over his sovereign rule of Egypt would demonstrate His ultimate sovereignty and absolute power over all things, with or without Pharaoh’s approval.
The same is true in our own lives!
Seize the moment and accept God’s sovereign rule of your life today—take on the yoke of Jesus Christ and come under the authority of God. His desire is for you to be free of Pharaoh, both from being one and from being under one. Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden is light.
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Seize the Moment – Day 454
Excuses! Excuses!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, June 14.
I remember when I first experienced God’s call upon my life to be a pastor. I had a list of excuses including bad choices from my past that I felt disqualified me, ongoing struggles in my life, and the biggest one of all, my glaring inability to sing. Excuses, excuses!
I didn’t realize it at the time, but I had joined a long list of people that spans thousands of years of history. What is the common denominator of this list of people? People who were called by God, but who made excuses of why they weren’t qualified, if not found reasons for why they were disqualified.
In Exodus 4:10-13, Moses made excuses to God on why he can’t be the right guy for the job:
Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? “Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say.” But he said, “Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.”
Audaciously, this conversation came after God had given Moses three supernatural signs of God’s endorsement: 1) the staff turning into a serpent; 2) his hand having leprosy and then being cleansed of it; and 3) turning water from the Nile into blood.
Moses tried to convince God that he was disqualified, but God wasn’t buying it, because God has a whole different way of seeing things.
Are you currently making excuses on why God can’t use you to do something?
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